BBC tax scheme ‘forced radio star to work while she had cancer’

KIRSTY LANG, the presenter, took no time off her radio work to have treatment for breast cancer because the BBC would not give her any sick pay.

The corporation told Lang, host of Radio 4’s Front Row, that she had to leave her staff job in 2013 and be paid via a personal service company. The arrangement meant that the BBC avoided paying employer’s national insurance contributions and benefits.

Three years later, Lang was diagnosed with breast cancer and worked through months of hormone therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy as she could not afford the loss of income.

Giving evidence to MPS, Lang said she had not wanted to leave the security of her staff job but “didn’t really feel I had a choice”.

She said: “I was frightened of getting sick, and I was worried about the pension. Sure enough, my fears came true.”

Shortly after being required to set up a personal service company, her stepdaughter died. “I was unable to take bereavement leave. I had to go back and do a show before her funeral because I had to get money in,” she said.

Lang was speaking to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, which is investigating the BBC’S controversial use of personal service companies. More than 170 presenters complained they were forced to set up the companies or lose work. Many now face crippling bills after being pursued by HMRC for tax. The BBC saved an estimated £10million in employer’s NICS.

Lang told the committee: “I trusted the BBC. I was proud to be part of the BBC, and I feel hung out to dry. I feel betrayed. I speak for many, many people in this situation. I have seen many women presenters deprived of maternity leave, I have seen many colleagues deprived of sick pay, and we keep on doing it because we love the job.

“Where else are you going to go? There is only one Radio 4.”

Lang has worked for the BBC for 33 years, save for a spell at Channel 4. She was headhunted for the Front Row job and a newsreading role on BBC World in 2002. When she asked to go parttime in 2013, the BBC told her that she must renounce her staff job.

Written evidence supplied to the committee by other presenters included claims that the BBC’S handling of their tax affairs had led to mental health issues, extreme stress and, in two cases, suicidal thoughts.

A change in the law last April meant the BBC became responsible for ensuring all presenters paid the correct tax. As a result, it moved presenters from personal service companies and began deducting tax at source. But Lang said she discovered to her “horror” that the new arrangement still gave her no entitlement to sick pay.

She said she had received no payment slips since the change last year. Another presenter, Liz Kershaw, said she worked for months without receiving any pay after refusing to set up a personal service company. The matter was resolved only when she presented a five-figure invoice for back pay.

BBC senior management refused to attend the committee hearing but asked an independent body to look into presenters’ contracts.

A spokesman said: “We recognise there are issues to address.”